[Sly Fox]

Liberty cuts helicopter pilot training, drone program expands

By: LIZ BARRY | Lynchburg News and Advance
Published: January 04, 2012

Liberty University is disbanding its helicopter flight-training program this year due to low student interest and limited job opportunities for helicopter pilots, LU officials said.

Liberty launched the helicopter program in 2008 as a concentration for students majoring in aeronautics. It appealed to students pursuing missionary work, since helicopters can land in remote areas without airstrips.

Three years later, Liberty is winding down helicopter training for the handful of students who still need to complete flight hours, said Dave Young, dean of the School of Aeronautics.

“It was a very expensive program to operate,” Young said. “For us to continue to do so, we would have to divert resources into it that could better serve our students.”

Meanwhile, Liberty plans to expand its “unmanned aerial systems,” or drone program, which started this fall.

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